That time we decorated "cupcakes"

It's uncommon for Koreans to have large ovens, which is why bakeries line busy streets all over the country.

I have a running joke with Ryan that my day isn't complete until I see someone carrying a boxed to-go cake.  For awhile this was practically an everyday sighting.

Some bakeries are obviously better than others, but unfortunately most cakes here are usually dry, and savory pastries are often sprinkled with sugar.  Double fail.

  I've been burned before with sweet "garlic" bread.  Sweet pickles on the other hand, (always served on the side with pizza but obviously not a baked good) have grown on me. 

But back to the baked goods.  

On a rainy afternoon during Erin's time in Busan we spent a few hours decorating cupcakes.  Ok so they were actually muffins... but still.

We chose our frosting colors and tips, then looked over the various additions to top off our designs.

Inspiration.

Needless to say, the place was adorable.  

 Around us couples decorated cakes marking dating anniversaries and families created others for birthdays.

We laughed a lot at beautiful cupcake attempts gone wrong.

Blooper photo #76.

   
And made some pretty ones as well.

Remember this country's obsession with ddong?

When I saw this topper I knew I had to make Ryan his very own custom cupcake, chocolate of course. 

It was such a fun way to spend the afternoon.

 

I will be dreaming of funfetti cupcakes until I return to the states.  

No one could confuse those with a muffin... but ours are much prettier.

Old Friend, New Place

Over the last weekend in August I got to do something I've been wanting to do for nearly a year: spend the day with my best friend.

We met in Andong, about midway between Busan and Seoul, where she'd flown in.  We set a time to meet at the local city bus terminal, where I waited on the bench outside the arrivals area like a kid on Christmas Eve.  It was sooo good to see her face when she stepped off the bus. 

 

  We wandered around the city together, well known for its mask dances and Hahoe, a traditional folk village.  Andong is also known for being larger in area than Seoul, and extremely spread out in terms of sights.  Trying to find the tourist information center proved to be much more difficult than it should have been.  I realized that this was the first time I've taken a trip in Korea without Ryan, and that while I am the planner, he is definitely the navigator. 

We made it to the folk village though (eventually), and it was as naturally beautiful as I'd imagined.
 
 

 
 

It was such a treat walking through a new place with Erin, born in Korea and back for the first time since she was a baby.    
 
 
 

 Yes that might be a you-know-what wearing a skirt in the photo on the left....  
When Erin pointed that out to me I couldn't stop laughing.  So maybe I'm still in middle school.
 
 
  

We made a mad dash to see the weekly Saturday mask performance we'd forgotten about, which proved worth the power walk despite the humidity.  It probably would have been even more interesting if we could understand the language, but not as interesting as it was for the poor group of foreigners who were pulled into the performing area and made to dance around.

 

  After exploring more of the village we took a bus back into town and witnessed a girl fight on the packed vehicle, complete with hair pulling and slapping.  Just for you, Erin.

That evening we took the bus back to Busan and spent Sunday here in town lounging on the beach.

Oh, this beach.  I'm going to miss spending sunny summer weekends here.

More updates on the time spent with my bestie to come.     
 

Safe travels home today Erin!  Miss you already. 

Seokbulsa, Round Two

A few weeks back we joined some friends for a hike to Seokbulsa, the temple we visited in spring.  We cheated and took the cable car most of the way up the mountain, but still earned our tree house meal by climbing what seemed like a never-ending rock staircase.  

Did I mention this was mid-August with nearly one hundred percent humidity?  Ugh.  

However, the views were amazing and the company was perfect.

 

 Made it to the temple!

 

 

Learning how to mix rice wine from the locals while dining on smoked duck, spicy noodle soup and veggie side dishes at an adorable tree house restaurant.